Box-strap



S. 0. GARY. BOX STRAP.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

W Z n m UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

SPENCER O. CARY, OF BALDIVIN, QUEENS COUNTY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO I VILLIAM II. VANDERBILT, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

BOX-STRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,353, dated November 2 5, 1890.

Application filed June 11, 1890. Serial No. 355,026. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that I, SPENCER C. CARY, of Baldwin, county of Queens, State of New York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Box-Straps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification.

To My invention relates to 'metal box-straps; and it consists in a metal band for box-straps of requisite width cut With thinned or beveled edges from an edge of ametal sheet, and preferably united endwise to constitute a strap I 5 of indefinite length, with the side edges thereof curled inward upon themselves, respectively, and pressed closely to the strap-body, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a View in plan of a metal boxstrap containing my invention, and Fig.2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 03 as, Fig. 1.

In fabricating my improved box strap bands or strips A, of suitable width, are cut or slit from an edge of a sheet of metal, and these bands or strips are then preferably jointed together endwise, as illustrated in Fig. 1, being united at their overlapped-ends 0 by rivets or eyelets a and constitutinga continuous metal strap of indefinite length.

In cutting the bands or strips from an edge of a metal sheet the action of the slittingknife in passing through the sheet bends or 3 5 deflects the metal along the line of the cut so as to cause the edges made on the bands by the cut to project somewhat beyond the under face of the band and to be drawn or pressed by the knife-edge to a thinness or bevel and consequent sharpness, which is objectionable in a box-strap, owing to the fact that such sharp side edges are liable to Wound or injure the hands of the users of the straps. In completing my invention, therefore, I curl or roll 5 the side edges of the strap over and upon themselves, respectively, and press them closely into contact with the body of the strap. This may be effected by passing the strap composed of the endwise-jointed bands, or

the bands individually before they are jointed together endwise to constitute the strap, be-

tween a pair or pairs of circumferentiallygrooved rollers, with the sharp edges formed on the strap by the slitting-knife, as set forth, seated in said circumferential grooves, said rollers being adapted to press upon said sharp edges as the strap travels between them, so that the sharp edges will be curled over upon themselves, respectively, and pressed closely to the strap-body. This essential feature of my improved metal strap is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the curled edges of the strap being shown therein at a, pressed closely to the strap-body alongsaid edges. In the box-strap thus formed the side edges may be made rounded and smooth, the sharp edges formed by the cut of the slitting-knife being bent or turned inward, as set forth, upon the strap,

so that the completed strap may be handled and used Without danger of injury to the hands of the users. Furthermore, my described metal box-strap may be coiled into a helix flatwise upon a suitable spool or holder and in this condition be transported and be unwound from its spool in desired lengths at the place of use.

I am aware that metalbox-straps have been heretofore fabricated by cutting bands or strips of suitable Width from a metal sheet and uniting such bands or strips endwise to constitute a strap of indefinite length; and hence I make no claim herein, broadly, to such a metal strap.

I am also aware that metal bands have had their side edges bent or turned over upon and 8 5 pressed to a face of the strap, and I make no claim herein to a strap having edges thus turned over and pressed to the strap-face. Straps having edges thus formed are thereby thickened at their edges and are incapable of being coiled upon a spool or reel, owing to the increased stiffness given to the strap edges by the said bend and owing to the buckling up or wrinkling of the turned-over edges when the strap is bent upon itself flatwise. In my improved strap the thinned and sharp side edges of the bands formed by the knife cu ts in slitting the bands from the metal sheet are curled inward upon themselves, respect ively, and pressed to the body of the bands too at and upon and along saidedges, and it is to a strap comprising this essential feature which affords the advantages herein that I makeclaim herein.

I do not claim herein the method of making metal box-straps, which consist-s in out ting metal bands or strips of suitable width from an edge of a sheet of metal, jointing said bands or strips together cndwise to constitute a metal strap of indefinite length, and, either before or after said bands or strips are thus ointed endwise, rolling or curling the side edges thereof inwardly over and upon themselves, respectively, and pressing them to the band-body at and upon and along the side edges thereof; nor do I claim herein the preferable mechanism by means of which I thus roll or curl the band edges inwardly upon themselves and press them to the ban d-body at and upon and along the side edges thereof,

recited thereof, substantially and for the purpose set forth.

SPENCER O. CARY.

WVitnesses:

A. S. FITCH, A. T. FALES. 

